Several raids by federal and local authorities across Los Angeles on Wednesday led to the arrests of 44 MS-13 gang members, including murderers, CNN reported.
The series of 50 raids occurred before dawn and were led by ATF agents and 1,000 other officers who have been working on the case for around three years. More than half of the 44 gang members arrested were undocumented immigrants, while three members are currently on the run.
The gang members will face charges that include federal racketeering and murder. CNN added that seven people pulled from one raid site were victims of human smuggling.
"Federally, they're all going away for a long time," an ATF agent said. "They're not going to be causing trouble for a number of years."
President Donald Trump has repeatedly cited the threat by the criminal enterprise spanning throughout much of the western hemisphere, including during a recent memorial service for fallen police officers.
MS-13 has been engaging in murder, drug smuggling, human trafficking and has built a reputation for its cruelty. The gang was first established in Los Angeles, although most of its members are from Central America.